New Delhi, August 19: Shri Kavinder Gupta, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, today met Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Hon’ble Union Minister of Power and Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, in New Delhi and held a detailed discussion on major developmental projects of Ladakh Union Territory.
The Hon’ble Lt Governor apprised the Union Minister about two landmark 24×7 water supply projects for Leh and Kargil towns, costing Rs 334.72 crore and Rs 373.17 crore respectively, which have been approved by the State High Powered Steering Committee (SHPSC) of UT Ladakh and subsequently cleared by the 12th Apex Committee under AMRUT 2.0 held on April 17, 2025. He highlighted that the projects have been included in the State Water Action Plan (SWAP) with a committed Central Assistance of Rs 62 crore (Rs 31 crore per project), while the balance funding will be managed by the UT Administration.
The Lt Governor underlined that Ladakh is witnessing drastic depletion of groundwater, creating a huge hue and cry among the people and leaving the future generations vulnerable to a water crisis. He stressed that this grave issue needs to be addressed on priority, and the sanctioned water supply projects are a decisive step towards ensuring water security and sustainability in the region.
The Lt Governor further briefed that as per the Apex Committee’s decisions, the total allocation of Central Assistance for Ladakh under AMRUT 2.0 stands at Rs 128 crore, in a 90:10 funding ratio. Of this, Rs 58.5 crore has already been released as the first tranche and Rs 69.5 crore as the second tranche to support these projects. He underlined that these approvals are final under AMRUT 2.0, and no further Central clearances such as SFC/EFC are required, ensuring that the UT Administration can directly proceed with execution, provided it mobilises its share of funds.
Shri Kavinder Gupta also briefed the Hon’ble Union Minister about the demand for an Urban Housing project under PMAY-U 2.0 in the Union Territory, emphasizing the need to strengthen housing infrastructure to meet the growing requirements of Leh and Kargil towns.
In addition, the Lt Governor also raised issues pertaining to the MNRE Project at Pang-Kharnak and other ongoing initiatives under the Ministry of Power in Ladakh, seeking continued assistance and intervention to expedite their completion. He stressed that these projects are closely aligned with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of making Ladakh a carbon-neutral and sustainable energy producer, thereby supporting the ecologically fragile region while meeting its developmental aspirations.
The Hon’ble Union Minister appreciated the efforts of the UT Administration in prioritising critical urban and power sector projects and assured the full support of the Government of India in addressing Ladakh’s unique developmental challenges.
The Lt Governor reaffirmed that the UT Administration will make all efforts to ensure the speedy and successful execution of the sanctioned projects, in line with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister for sustainable and inclusive development in Ladakh.
